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OCT 221980 $DOK 45 PAGE 08 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NATIONAL COOPERATIVE SOIL SURVEY MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS, FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES, INDIAN RIVER SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT AND INDIAN RIVER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RELATIVE TO MAKING A SOIL SURVEY IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA (#061) Purpose of Doing the Work. The purpose of this soil survey is to provide basic soils data for multipurpose planning in Indian River County. A reconnaissance survey was prepared in 1913 of a narrow strip along the Indian River which is out of print and inadequate for modern planning purposes, nor does it meet current standards of the National Cooperative Soil Survey. Description of the Area - Indian River County is located on the Atlantic Coast in the central portion of the Florida peninsular. It is bounded by Brevard County on the north, Osceola and Okeechobee on the west and St. Lucie and Okeechobee Counties on the south. The county occurs within the southern Florida flatwoods and the southern Florida lowlands major land resource areas. Elevations range from sea level to about 60 feet in the western part of the county. The major soil landscapes in the county consist of the coastal beach and dunes between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River and the well drained sandy ridge on the west side of the Indian River running north and south across the county. The large St. Johns marsh and Lake Wilmington area occupy approximately 60,000 acres in the west central part of the county. This area, which consists of organic and very poorly drained mineral soils, forms the upper reaches of the St. Johns River watershed. The landscape to the east and west of the St. Johns marsh consists of acid and sweet flatwoods with shallow depressions and sloughs throughout the area. Soils are primarily spodosols. The eastern portion of the county is undergoing rapid land use changes, primarily to urban development. Vero Beach is the county seat and the largest city in the county. The major agricultural industry in the county consists 'of citrus and cattle production, with some tomatoes and melons also produced. - Size. Land area - 351,000 (1970 Census) Water area - 27,000 Total area - 378,000 Cooperating Agencies and Responsibilities. - Soil Conservation Service shall provide technical staff to conduct the survey. The Service will also provide the equipment, supplies, transportation, and new -base photos. for _the survey._ Additionally, the Service will provide the necessary quality control to insure the survey meets the stan--&rds -of -th-&— - _-% National Cooperative Survey, and will assume the responsibility for map compilation, finishing, and publication. - University of Florida Soil Science Department will provide laboratory characterization data as needed for proper classification and interpretation. The University will provide the funds and manpower for sampling, laboratory characterization, and preparation of data -reports. They will also prepare the section relating to the "physical, chemical, and mineralogical analysis of selected soils" for the report manuscript. - Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services through the state soil and water office, provide state leadership for the acceleration of the soil survey in the state. Working with the Florida Association of Conservation Districts and other interested groups and agencies including the Indian River Soil and Water Conservation District seek continued support and "9 from the state legislature plete the survey in the stat�f a. `